Featured Speakers

Dr. Caires is an Assistant Extension Agent at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). He is currently an Associate Livestock Agent Serving Maui and Kauai Counties. 

A native of Maui, he grew up on a diversified cattle and asparagus operation. Kyle originally left the islands to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at Oregon State University and was a member of its championship livestock judging team. He later attended Washington State University where he earned Master’s and Ph. D. degrees in Reproductive Genomics and Stem-cell biology. 

Kyle hit the ground running with programs to benefit livestock producers and 4-H youth on Maui, Moloka‘i and Lāna‘i, helping ranchers improve profitability, while at the same time conducting high impact research that has garnered awards at national and international meetings. Kyle was recently recognized with an Achievement of Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. 

He has served on the board of the American Society of Animal Science as Chair of the Endocrinology and Physiology Section, and served as a national committee board member, chair or delegate of the American Angus Association, Red Angus Association of America and South East Red Angus Association, and is a current member of the International Brangus Breeders Associations Breed-Improvement committee. Kyle is an active member of Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association and serves as the President for the Maui County Farm Bureau. 

Kyle knows a thing or two about livestock outside of academia. In 2003, while still in college, he founded Future Beef, a livestock genetics and consulting company, and over the next decade, developed that business serving the various needs of clientele in over 40 states and 18 countries around the globe. In fact, Kyle is the only Hawai‘i native ever selected to judge cattle at the National Western Stock Show, the “Super Bowl of livestock shows”!  

His passion for the livestock industry is evidenced by working with 4H/FFA youth, judging livestock expositions both in the United States and abroad, and maintaining active research collaborations with researchers and livestock producers in several countries like Brazil and Japan; often leveraging those relationships to help the livestock industry in Hawai‘i.  

When Kyle isn’t at work, he spends time with his family and small herd of beef cows at Caires Farms. 

Nicole Galase is the Managing Director of the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council, Hawaiʻi Rangeland Stewardship Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Beef Industry Council. Nicole started her career working with endangered species across the State of Hawaiʻi, including Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Now, she has the privilege to work for premier land stewards – Hawaiʻi’s paniolo. This work includes educating the public on the benefits of well-managed rangelands, partnering with researchers to understand climate smart ranching practices, and increasing access to resources and opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s ranchers. Her goal is to highlight the overlapping goals of cattlemen and conservation to foster closer collaboration between the communities. 

In 2021, she was nominated by her organization’s board members and recognized as a Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 Honoree, and in 2022 she was bestowed the honor of being names Cattlemen of the Year by the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council.

Nicole was born and raised in Palolo Valley. Today she lives in Volcano with her husband and two dogs and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from UH Manoa’s Shidler College of Business, and a Master of Marine Conservation from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.